It has also
been used to create heat
packs which employ
exothermic chemical
reactions, but these are no
longer being created due to
cheaper and more efficient
methods such as the
oxidation of metals ('Hot
Hands', one time use
products) or the
crystallization of sodium
acetate (multiple use
products).
A very bulk
use of Potassium chloride is
in mines and Oil Drilling
mud and chemicals.
Potassium is
vital in the human body and
oral KCl is the common means
to replenish it, although it
can also be diluted and
given intravenously (of
course, in concentrations
much lower than those used
in executions). It
can be used as a salt
substitute for food, but due
to its weak, bitter, unsalty
flavor, it is usually mixed
with regular salt (sodium
chloride), for this purpose
to improve the taste (for
example, in Morton Lite
Salt. Medically it is used
in the treatment of
hypokalemia and associated
conditions, for digitalis
poisoning, and as an
electrolyte replenisher.
